World Cup 2022 qualification play-offs

Via the World Cup 2022 qualifying play-offs, 3 tickets for the main tournament can be won. 12 countries will compete for the last 3 places for the World Cup in Qatar.

The qualifying play-offs will be played by the 10 numbers 2 from the group stage + 2 nations from the 2020/21 Nations League.

  • 10 runners-up from the qualifying group stage.
  • 2 Nations League countries.

These 2 countries are the best teams according to the Nations League overall ranking, not finishing first or second in the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers. The numbers 1 in that group stage has been placed directly, while the numbers two have already been admitted to this play-off round.

Qualifying play-off winners

Wales, Portugal and Poland are the winners of the qualifying play-offs path A, B and C. They have thus qualified for the World Cup in Qatar.

  • Wales Wales
  • Portugal Portugal
  • Poland Poland

Russia banned from participation and Ukraine match moved because of war

Because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, FIFA has made a decision about the course of the qualifying play-offs.

Russia is seen as the cause of the war and has been banned from participating in these qualifiers and ultimately the World Championship in Qatar.

Ukraine is the victim of this war and keeps its chance of a place in the World Cup. The match against Scotland has therefore been moved to June 2022, as has the final of Pad A.

Qualifying playoffs schedule consists of 3 paths of 4 teams

The 12 countries are divided into 3 paths, from which the winner qualifies. Each path of 4 countries consists of two semi-finals and a final.

The playoffs therefore concern a few matches (home or away) on March 24 and 29, 2022. The three winners of the paths will qualify as the last European teams.

The winners of semifinals 1 and 2 will play against each other in the final. The same applies to the winners of semi-finals 3 and 4, and semi-finals 5 and 6. The draw determines which countries will play at home.

Schedule 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs
24 March 2022 20:45 Path A  
Wales Wales 2-1 Austria Austria
 
24 March 2022 18:00 Path B  
Russia Russia cancelled Poland Poland
 
24 March 2022 20:45 Path B  
Sweden Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic Czech Republic
 
24 March 2022 20:45 Path C  
Italy Italy 0-1 Macedonia Macedonia
 
24 March 2022 20:45 Path C  
Portugal Portugal 3-1 Turkey Turkey
 
29 March 2022 20:45 Path B  
Poland Poland 2-0 Sweden Sweden
 
29 March 2022 20:45 Path C  
Portugal Portugal 2-0 Macedonia Macedonia
 
1 June 2022 20:45 Path A  
Scotland Scotland 1-3 Ukraine Ukraine
 
5 June 2022 20:45 Path A  
Wales Wales 1-0 Ukraine Ukraine
 

Participants in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup

The 12 participants of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup are:

  • Italy
  • Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia (banned)
  • Scotland
  • Sweden
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Wales
  • Austria (Nations League)
  • Czech Republic (Nations League)

European play-off draw for 2022 World Cup

The draw for the European play-offs for the 2022 World Cup is on November 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM.

The draw will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, and will determine which countries will meet for the World Championship in Qatar.

Pot layout of the draw for the play-off round

Now that it is known which 12 countries will participate in the playoff matches, the pots will be allocated for the draw.

The 6 best numbers two from the World Cup qualifiers are placed in pot 1. These countries play the semifinals at home. The other 6 countries are placed in pot 2, and thus play out.

Pot 1
Portugal Portugal
Scotland Scotland
Italy Italy
Russia Russia
Sweden Sweden
Wales Wales
Pot 2
Turkey Turkey
Poland Poland
Macedonia Macedonia
Ukraine Ukraine
Austria Austria
Czech Republic Czech Republic

The countries in pot 1 are drawn first for the semi-finals and play a home game. The first country drawn will play the semifinal 1, the second country the semifinal 2, and so on.

The countries from pot 2 are linked to the countries from pot 1, and thus play out. The first country drawn will play the semifinal 1, the second country the semifinal 2, and so on.

For political reasons, Russia and Ukraine cannot be drawn against each other.

Criteria for the best numbers 2

To determine who the best numbers 2 are, UEFA has drawn up criteria:

  1. Most points
  2. Best Goal Difference
  3. Most Goals Scored
  4. Most away goals scored
  5. Most number of games won
  6. Most number of away games won
  7. Lowest Disciplinary Points (Red = 3 Points, Yellow = 1 Point)
  8. Ranking for the Nations League 2020/21

Since one group consists of five and the other six teams, the results against the number six are scrapped. This makes it possible to compare the results between all numbers 2.

Date published: 16-03-2010 | Date updated: 02-10-2024 | Author:

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In the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs the 10 numbers two + 2 nations from the Nations League will participate. 3 teams qualify for the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup.


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